Research shows that nearly half of New Year’s resolutions fizzle before February. Instead of setting overly ambitious New Year’s resolutions that make you feel bad when you can’t accomplish them, we want to help you revolutionize your approach to resolutions with Microsteps, Thrive’s science-backed, too-small-to-fail mini behavior changes that you can integrate into your life right away, making it easier to meaningfully form new habits.
We challenged Thrive staffers to test a Microstep for 32 days and write about their progress. The result? Some very honest and encouraging Microstep Diaries, like this one.
Thrive staffer: Stephanie Fairyington, contributing writer
Microstep: An hour before I went to bed, I’d put my iPhone in the kitchen to charge it overnight and keep it far removed from my fidgety fingers.
Why I chose it
As a lifelong insomniac and chronic multitasker, I wanted to improve the quality of my sleep, as well as my ability to concentrate by not fiddling with my phone while talking with my spouse Sabrina or watching a favorite show in the evening.
Sneaking peeks
For me, someone plagued by frenetic energy and a multitude of competing obsessive compulsions, successfully completing my Microstep (I did it for 25 out of 32 days) felt like an accomplishment.
I admit that I stole a few furtive glances at my phone when I’d take a trip to the bathroom. And I may have feigned being parched to visit the kitchen a few times to get a quick fix. During those times I’d linger over texts, tweets, and feeds for as long as I could until Sabrina’s impatience peeked and she’d incredulously snap: “Are you looking at your phone?” Oops. But I kept going.
Rewards reaped
When I stuck to my Microstep I felt a greater sense of calm. Without the frenzied excitement of my phone around me, I fell asleep faster — although staying asleep remains a problem — and avoided multitasking, which helped me stay present with Sabrina and remember the details of the shows we watched over the month. Experiencing increased serenity, a more connected connection to Sabrina and the ability to recall plot points in Ray Donovan definitely feels like a win. That said, once I upgraded my device to a slick, shiny iPhone XR, my willpower tanked. But putting all of this on paper is reminding me again of all I risk losing by being in a perpetual state of divided attention.
Key takeaways
Reflecting on this experience reminds me of all the ways my unhealthy phone habits interfere with my sleep and the quality of my most important relationship. The increased calm and focus this Microstep provided also made me think about how my excess phone use and dependence has chipped away at my ability to concentrate in all areas of my life and even significantly clipped my patience, making me more prone to aggravation over minor grievances. A 2016 study, in fact, showed that our increased reliance on portable electronic devices erodes our impulse control and capacity to delay gratification. Journaling this makes the consequences feel more urgent, disturbing and real, so tonight I’ll put my XR back in the kitchen — and resist the temptation to visit it on my way to the bathroom.
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More Microstep Month Diaries:
I Made a Small Change in My Pre-Bedtime Ritual for 32 Days and the Results Were Amazing
I Tried A Quick Burst of Exercise Most Mornings for 32 Days and Here’s What Happened
I Journaled Every Night for 32 Days, and Turned It Into a Sweet Gift for My Partner
Arianna Huffington: Give Your New Year’s Resolutions a Boost by Joining Us For Microstep Month